The long-standing tradition of Boxing Day hunting, curtailed to some extent yesterday by the frozen ground, has become, in recent years, an opportunity for anyone who supports hunting and regrets the ban to show solidarity.

In many rural parts of the Westcountry that solidarity with the hunt remains strong, even among country people who have never hunted and never will. It is a fact that the impact of the ban, imposed – and later regretted – by Tony Blair, went far deeper in many rural areas that those directly affected.

Yesterday the Western Morning News reported that the promised free vote to overturn the ban may now be delayed, despite promises from David Cameron to bring it forward as soon as possible.

The Western Morning News has consistently argued for another vote on this law which – whatever side of the debate you stand – is a bad law that has the distinction of failing both sides. We accept, however, that making a priority of the hunt vote in the current economic and political climate would not be sensible. Mr Cameron gave his word. A vote, we are sure, is coming. Just not quite yet.